Food for Thought: How to Wash Up in the Wilderness, Science News Online, Aug. 26, 2006
Many campers who wash their dishes and utensils in the wilderness use methods that don’t consistently remove all bacteria.

According to new research, even professional expedition companies that employ one of several well-established, three-step washing procedures may place their clients at unnecessary risk of getting gastrointestinal illnesses. An alternative system that uses the same amount of water and involves the same number of rinses is more hygienic, says microbiologist Joanna Hargreaves, who conducted the new study.

Three bowls

To clean eating implements adequately, Hargreaves proposes a rigorous approach to washing in which backpackers would first fill each of three large bowls or buckets with about 5 liters (1 1/3 gallons) of clean water. Next, add 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) of detergent to the first container and 10 ml (2 tsp) of 4-percent chlorine bleach (a common commercial preparation) to the second.

To wash dishes and utensils, remove most food residues in the first bowl and, in the second, scrub the items until they are visibly clean. A quick rinse in the third bowl removes the odor of the cleaning chemicals.

—

Looks reasonable to me and much better than just wash and rinse. Good advice and a good article. Visit the site to read it all.